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This Week’s Good Reads

Here is a rather interesting discussion Helm is having at his blog on the relationship between the Princetonian theologian B.B. Warfield and the Dutch theologians Abraham Kuyper and Herman Bavinck. Helm suggests that though the Warfield seemingly did not agree with the Dutch on the issue of apologetics they were actually more alike than they realized. As a fan of both groups I rather enjoyed this piece and look forward to the next installment.

A look at a panel of Catholic Bishops who are protesting the unjust law of the Obama Administration to force religious organizations to provide contraceptives that may induce abortions in their health care packages. In the article several bishops are quoted as advocating a form of civil disobedience. It is an interesting and insightful piece. I am personally not sure where I stand on the issue of civil disobedience in this matter. I respect these men and their decision, and I heartily agree that abortion is wrong and the policy of the Obama administration is wrong, but I am uncomfortable with the advocation of civil disobedience. I need to reflect on this more.

A critical look at much of the trendy social activism among my generation today. Brooks loves this idealism and yet is honest about its shortcomings. Here he points to the lack of political interest among these social entrepreneurs, which I readily admit I fall into, and the lack of honesty about the realities of sin and depravity within the world (my words, not his). A helpful corrective to what is an otherwise good trend.

This is an incredibly insightful piece that resonates well with me. It explicates the four major reasons that young people are moving out of the suburbs and re-populating the urban centers. Well worth reading and contemplating on. From a missional standpoint it only further highlights the need for church revitalization in downtowns.

I have zero interest in rap, and even less interest in so-called Christian rap. But I enjoyed this interview with Southern Seminary student and rising rap star “Flame.” I have great respect for his intentions and his commitment to Scripture. Check it out.

When I first heard what Richard Land, President of the SBC’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, was saying regarding the politicizing of the Trayvon Martin case I was shocked! Alan Noble has written an excellent response to his comments and my hope and prayer is that Land will repent of what he has said!

This is a rather disheartening look at the reality of racism today and into the future. It is probably a more honest look at the roots of racial tension than anything else I’ve read lately, though. Racism isn’t just some thing of the past, it is present today and possibly growing.

Former Thomas Nelson CEO Michael Hyatt made a habit of napping every day, and he believes it helped him to be more productive on the job. He wants to encourage us to enjoy the benefits of a daily nap too. Check it out.

I was introduced to this 2010 article from The Washington Post this week. In this rather insightful op-ed piece the author postulates that our current model of narrowly focused higher education is leaving us with a nation of superficial scholars. That is, we have students who graduate with great skills related to single disciplines but cannot think beyond their discipline. I have often discussed with others that I think this is a deficiency in our model, but I hadn’t heard much discussion about this. The article has been critiqued as having a political conservative agenda, which may or may not be true. I can’t speak to that. But I think that it’s author is on to something, nonetheless. Check it out and share your thoughts.

I love Ed Stetzer. What I especially love about this post is that he does not shy away from tough subjects, and this one has to do with the ridiculous remarks made by a big-wig in Stetzer’s denomination. Stetzer points to the reality of the SBC’s history on racial issues and suggests that maybe its representatives ought to be more slow to speak on such subjects. He also points to the ways in which the statistics that Richard Land used in his absurd commentary can be misleading or misunderstood. It’s an all around helpful piece, I think.